Solomon Worshipping Idols

The 17th-century Italian artist Luca Giordano has depicted a popular religious subject of the time. 

Take a moment to look at this painting. What attracts your attention?

"Solomon Worshipping Idols" is one of the most popular scenes in 17th century art. In the center of the painting is Solomon, son of David, who was king of Israel from 960 to 928 BC.

His status as a ruler is demonstrated by a fur hat with a crown on top and a long robe, decorated with fur, a golden chain and a precious stone.

Solomon is depicted in profile, kneeling and overlooking an altar dedicated to pagan gods. He holds a steaming sacrificial vessel in his outstretched arms.

Another burning sacrificial vessel is placed on the tiles in the foreground of the painting.

A dog silhouette is in the shadow on the left.

The painting environment consists of a stone slab floor, ionic columns surrounded by vines, flower garlands and a fragment of a rotunda-shaped building. In the background there is a light blue sky with dark, menacing clouds.

Solomon had hundreds of wives from different lands, belonging to different faiths. The biblical story describes Solomon disobeying God by building an altar outside Jerusalem for his wifes to worship idol gods, burn incense and sacrifice to their pagan gods.

One of Solomon's many wives is depicted next to his left shoulder. Dressed in a luxurious dress and adorned, she touches Solomon's back with her right hand. 

What could this gesture mean? Does it seem encouraging, supportive?

The vertical line of Solomon's body and the upward-raised arm rhythmically resonate with the gesture of the woman's right hand, addressing the altar together.

A woman sitting next to her is facing the opposite direction. 

Observe the asymmetry that is embodied in the characters' gestures and movements. The saturated angles build a diagonal composition, characteristic of baroque painting. 

Notice the colours used in the artwork. 

What is the mood set by the matching areas of blue, red and gold? What could the pronounced light and shadow effects indicate?

The artist Luca Giordano has used stark light and dark contrasts, a dense multi-figure composition and character dynamics to create a dramatic, baroque depiction of a biblical subject.